But FIRST! Contests! You need to know about the Contests! There's the FREE contest: You write a 53-word story based on a prompt and you might win a book from Press 53. That happens EVERY MONTH! Go here for details.

But there's also our new Prime Number Magazine Awards--over $2,000 in prizes plus publication for the winners in five categories: Short Story, Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Flash Nonfiction, and Poetry. Deadline is March 31. For complete guidelines and information about our fabulous judges, go here.

To see work from previous issues, check out the Archives, or order Editors' Selections Volumes 1, 2 and 3, shipping now from Press 53. These three volumes are beautiful books and contain some excellent poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Plus, Volume 3 has an interview with Pam Houston that you won't find anywhere else.

In Issue 47, we continue to bring you distinctive poetry and prose: short stories about love in Antarctica and poetry on Mars; poems about war and birdsong; essays about basketball and cellphones; an interview with Joseph Daniel Haske, author of North Dixie Highway; and reviews of two novels. Our cover photo is by Ray Scanlon.

We are currently reading submissions for Issue 47 updates, Issue 53, and beyond. Please visit our Submit page and send us your distinctive poetry and prose. We’re looking for flash fiction and nonfiction up to 750 words, stories and essays up to 5,000 words, poems, book reviews, craft essays, short drama, ideas for interviews, and cover art that reflects the number of a particular issue. If we’ve had to decline your submission, please forgive us and try again!

A number of readers have asked how they might comment on the work they read in the magazine. We’ll look into adding that feature in the future. In the meantime if you are moved to comment I would encourage you to send us an email (editors@primenumbermagazine.com) and we’ll pass your thoughts along to the contributors. Similarly, if you are a publisher and would like to send us ARCs for us to consider for reviews, please contact us at the above email address. We’re especially interested in reviewing new, recent, or overlooked books from small presses.

One more thing: Prime Number Magazine is published by Press 53, a terrific small press helping to keep literature alive. Please support independent presses and bookstores.